Fishing Report
We’re Anticipating an Excellent Fishing Season in 2010What’s been going on out there with our salmon?
Chinook and Coho populations so many sport and public anglers’ rely on have experienced recent struggles. 2009 proved to be different – why?Ocean survival is the key word. Our oceans are changing and for some species this has been a benefit – for others – a problem. Is it a cycle we’re not completely tuned into yet? Most likely, human activity has been part of the issue.
2004 – 2005 provided Rivers Inlet some exceptional summer and fall catches of mature salmon and these fish were migrating back to natal streams after experiencing very healthy open-ocean feeding conditions. Unfortunately around this same time, juvenile salmon entering the ocean coast wide during the spring were experiencing very difficult feeding conditions due to very warm water. There simply wasn’t enough food and many perished as very small fish. The 2007 and 2008 seasons bore the brunt of this effect and returning populations were slim after struggling through their typical 3-5 year feeding and growth periods. Anglers experienced lower encounters and catches of their prized fish.
Since 2006, the ocean our salmon rely on has been cooling considerably. This is very good news as typically salmon fare better with the cooler, more nutrient rich water. What does this mean? The salmon returning in 2009 to all areas of the coast, including Rivers Inlet experienced very good feeding conditions resulting in better ocean survival and an overall larger size. 2009 produced exceptional catches (Notable: 78.6lb and 70.lb Chinook released and 26lb, 23lb Coho retained) looking further ahead to 2010 and beyond fishing should be much more consistent. Expect great fishing.
Sport and Public fishing advocacy groups are strong in British Columbia and have been looking out for the best interest of both fishery resources and access. As a result, our sport and public fisheries have earned priority access to Chinook and Coho resulting in consistent expectation and opportunity. Further, this effort has effectively cut many commercial fisheries on the Central Coast of British Columbia allowing more fish to pass our doorstep and into natal streams. This has been very, very good news. Canadian negotiators worked hard with the Pacific Salmon Commission in 2009 (a joint Canadian / US management group) to realize a 15-20% reduction in the interception and catch of Canadian salmon in Alaskan commercial fisheries. The new treaty between US and Canada will certainly benefit all sport and public anglers in British Columbia.
We want to hear from you!
Should you have a sport fishing management perspective you’d like to share we want to hear from you!
Contact Ted Walkus or George Cuthbert anytime:
ted.walkus@goodhopecannery.com
gcuthbert@goodhopecannery.com
